It can hardly be alleged any longer that President Balma-
ceda represents a constitutional party in Chili. The new Congress, which has practically been nominated by himself, has passed a series of Acts investing him with all the powers useful to a Dictator. He has been authorised to expend all revenues at his own discretion, to borrow money without previous sanction from the Chambers, to declare any district or city in a state of siege, to suspend the liberty of the Press and the right of public meeting, to suspend the judicial power in political or serious cases, to create military tribunals and define their authority, and to dismiss all public servants, of Whatever rank or degree, Judges apparently included. It would have been simpler and more honest to make him Dictator at once, but apparently the President wishes these excessive powers to attach to his office while retaining a Constitution. Some of these powers have already been used, the President having prohibited all public meetings of more than three persons, having borrowed the "metallic reserve" intended to guarantee the paper money of the Republic, and having issued a forced loan for 24,000,000. The extraordinary point in the situation is that no demand has been made for an extension of the Presidential period, which ends on September 18th, although the President is ineligible for a second term.
